Energy absorbing door control device

ABSTRACT

A door closing device having components which include interlocking portions capable of rapid manual assembly without tools; and includes subassemblies relatively extensible by spring force, opposed by an energy absorbing means having a ring of indenting balls and an elastomeric energy absorbing sleeve to control the rate of extension.

.nited States 'Patet 1 1 Poe 14 1 Mar.5, 1974 ENERGY ABSORBING DOOR CONTROL DEVICE [75] Inventor: Lloyd Richard Poe, Los Angeles,

- Calif.

[73] Assignee: The Hartwell Corporation, Los

Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 250,984

[52] US. Cl. 267/136, 188/1 C [51] Int. Cl F16f 7/12 [58] Field of Search... 267/135, 136, 114, 166, 170;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,059,269 10/1962 Selinger et al. 267/114 3,583,530 6/l97l De Venne 188/] B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,228,864 1l/l966 Germany 267/135 Primary Examiner.lames B. Marbert Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lyon & Lyon [5 7] ABSTRACT A door closing device having components which include interlocking portions capable of rapid manual assembly without tools; and includes subassemblies relatively extensible by spring force, opposed by an energy absorbing means having a ring of indenting balls and an elastomeric energy absorbing sleeve to control the rate of extension.

1 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ENERGY ABSORBING DOOR CONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION thereby providing a door control device which may be For: ENERGY ABSORBING DEVICE, now

. U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,89l ,issued Oct. 10, 1972.

More particularly, the present invention utilizes an embodiment of an energy absorbing means disclosed in the abovementioned application and adapts it for use as a door control device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION j locking means whereby the components may be rapidlyassemblcd manually with a minimal use of tools,

sold at a price substantially below conventional door control devices permitting its use where conventional devices are not feasible.

Second, to provide a door control device which may be connected between a door frame and a door in such a manner as to resist initial opening of the door, then at a predetermined partially open position, operates to urge the door to its fully open position; and, conversely, resists initial closing of the door, then at a predetermined partially closed position, operates to urge the door to its fully closed position.

Third, to provide a door control device as indicated in the other objects which incorporates a novel means for adjusting the amount of energy absorption attained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a bottom view of the energy absorbing door control device shown in position on the upper side of a door frame and connected to a door, the door frame and door being shown fragmentarily, the door being indicated by broken lines and dotted lines in an intermediate and a full open position and corresponding positions of the door control device also being indicated.

. mounting bracket 1 which may be in the form ofa triangular plate adapted to be mounted at the top or bottom margin of a door frame 2. The mounting bracket includes a stem lla which journals a hub member 3 preferably injection molded of plastic material. The hub member includes a recess 4 in axial alignment with the stem la into which the stem protrudes and receives a retainer clip 5.

At one radialside, the hub member 3 is provided with an oval portion 6 which may have opposed recesses to facilitate molding. Protruding from the major sides of the oval portion is a pair of diametrically disposed latching lugs 7. Centered with respect to the oval portion 6 and extending radially with respect to the axis of the stem la is a boss 8 of reduced diameter having a longitudinal slot 9 intersected by a small perforation 10.

Fitted over the oval portion 6 and extending radially with respect to the stem 1a is a tubular housing member 11 which may be tapered. The housing member is provided with a diametrically disposed pair of keeper apertures 12 which engage the latching lugs 7. The housing member 11 is formed of plastic material capable of some elastic deformation in order that opposite sides may be pressed inward to increase the distance between the keeper apertures 12 so that the housing member 111 may be easily secured to the hub member 3. The housing member 11 iemains fixed to the hub member in the course of its use but may be removed therefrom should this be desired. The extended end of the housing member is provided with a shallow internal flange R3 to form at'its inner end a stop shoulder 14.

A mandrel rod 15 extends centrally within the housing member, its inner end is bent laterally as indicated by 16 so that the mandrel rod may be fitted into the slot 9 with its lateral end 16 fitting into the perforation 10. The extended end of the mandrel rod is provided with a head 17 which may be integral with the rod or may be in the form of a collar or the like permanently attached thereto.

The mandrel rod 15 receives an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve 18, the ends of which abut the head 17 and the end of the boss 8. Except for the axial restraint provided by the head 17 and the boss 8, the clastomeric sleeve is capable of axial displacement relative to the mandrel.

Fitted within the extended end of the housing member 11 and movable into the housing member is a coupling member 19 having a stop flange20 which engages the stop shoulder 14 to limit outward movement of the coupling member. Outwardly from the flange 20 the coupling member 19 includes an oval portion 21 from which extend latching lugs 22 similar to the latching lugs 7. The coupling member has a central bore which clears the elastomeric sleeve 18 and extending from the oval portion 21 is a tubular boss 23 of reduced external diameter, the extremity of which forms a stop. A spring 24 is interposed between the oval portion 6 and the flange 20 so as to urge the coupling member to the position shown in FIG. 2.

An extensible housing member 25 is provided which includes a sleeve portion 26 dimensioned to fit over the oval portion 21 and form a sliding fit within the internal flange 13. Similar to the housing member 11, the extensible housing member 25 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed keeper slots 27 which cooperate with the latching lugs 22 thereby securing the coupling member 19 and the extensible housing member 25 together. Outwardly from the sleeve portion 26 the extensible housing 25 is provided with an internally screwthreaded portion 28. The extremity of the extensible housing member terminates in a yoke 29.

Mounted within the extensible housing member 25 is a tubular adjustment member 30 having a screwthreaded portion 31 engaging the screwthreaded portion 28. The adjustment member 30 includes an annular rib 32 fitting slidably within the sleeve portion 26 and at the side of the rib 32 opposite from the screwthreaded portion the adjustment member is reduced in diameter and provided with a pair of diametrically disposed latch lugs 33.

Mounted between the tubular boss 23 of the coupling member 19 and the adjustment member 30 is a tubular cage member 35, one end of which fits over the reduced end of the adjustment member 30. This end is provided with diametrically disposed keeper apertures 36 and axial slots 37 so that the walls may spring outwardly to permit the apertures 36 to receive the latch lugs 33. Once joined together the cage member 35 and adjustment member 30 function as a unit. internally, the cage member 35 is provided with axially extending grooves 38, the radially outer walls of which taper or converge toward the coupling member 19 and slidably receive the tubular boss 23.

The grooves 38 receive a' set of indenting balls 39 which are forced radially inward by the tapered walls of the grooves 38. Rotation of the cage member 35 and adjustment member 30 changes the axial extent of the chamber formed between the tubular boss 23 and the extremity of the adjustment member 30. This controls the amount of indentation of the balls 39 into the elastomeric sleeve 18.

The cage member 35 is provided with a knurled periphery 40 and the extensible housing member 25 is provided with an access opening 41 so that the cage member 35 and adjustment member 30 may be rotated manually to adjust the interaction between the indenting balls 39 and the elastomeric sleeve 18.

A mounting strap 42 is provided which includes a looped end 43 received in the yoke 29 and pivotally retained therein by a journal pin 44. The extended end 45 of the strap is fastened to a door 46, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the door being connected to the door frame 2 by a hinge 47.

One mode of assembly of the energy absorbing door control device is as follows:

The hub member 3 is placed on the stem 1a and se cured by the clip 5. The mandrel rod and sleeve 18 are secured to the hub member by placing the mandrel rod 15 in the slot 9 and extending the lateral end 16 into the perforation 10. The coupling member 19 and the spring 24 are inserted into the housing member 11 whereupon the housing member 11 is forced over the latching lugs 7 until they engage the keeper apertures 12. To accomplish this, opposite sides of the tubular member are pressed in as indicated in FIG. 4. The cage member 35 is slipped over the protruding end of the sleeve 18 and the indenting balls 39 are dropped in place whereupon the adjustment member 30 is inserted into the cage member until the latch lugs 33 engage the keeper apertures 36. The extensible housing member 25 is screwthreaded onto the adjustment member by turning the cage member using the access opening 41. The housing 25 is then forced over the oval portion 21 of the coupling member until the latching lugs 22 and keeper slots engage. The journal pin 44 is then inserted through the looped end 43 of the mounting strap to complete the assembly.

Operation of the energy absorbing door control device is as follows:

The interaction of the indenting balls and the energy abosrbing elastomeric member is essentially the same as that more fully described in the aforementioned application, Serial No. 85,001. The device normally occupies an extended position due to the force exerted by the spring 24. During movement of the extensible housing member 25 into the housing member 11, the indenting balls are disposed at the larger end of the cage chamber and thus do not indent into the sleeve 18 or only indent slightly. When inward force on the housing 25 is released, the spring forces the coupling member 19 and the housing outwardly from the housing member 11; however, this movement is dampened or snubbed by the interaction of the balls and the elastomeric sleeve. Some energy absorption takes place in the vicinity of the indenting balls. in addition, the entire region of the elastomeric sleeve between the indenting balls and the outer end of the sleeve is compressed axially and thus is subjected to distributed energy absorption so as to withstand transient loads as might occur should one attempt to slam the door shut or jerk the door open, as more fully expressed in the aforementioned application.

The force exerted by the spring is maximum when the extensible housing 25 is in its retracted position and minimum when it is in its extended position shown in FIG. 2. in order to provide a uniform outward force on the housing member 25, the elastomeric sleeve is tapered so that its resistance to movement is greatest when the spring force is greatest. in fact, the change in thickness of the sleeve 18 may be so programmed that the outward force on the housing member 25 is uniform or nearly so. i

The dampening or energy absorbing effect of the door control device is best utilized if the device occupies an extended position, or nearly so, when the door is fully closed or when it is fully opened, and the device occupies its retracted position at some intermediate position of the door. Thus. one using the door, manually opens it against the spring force only as the energy absorbing action of the sleeve is minimal or nonexistent during contraction of the housing 25. After the door has been opened to some predetermined intermediate position, the direction of movement of the housing 25 is reversed and it moves outwardly under the force of the spring controlled by the energy absorbed in the sleeve 18 so that the door moves under control to its fully opened position. Conversely, when closing the door the first movement compresses the spring, then after the door has passed its midpoint the force is reversed and the spring tempered by the action of the sleeve 18 moves the door to its fully closed position and restrains the door in such position.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifcations and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An energy absorbing device, comprising:

a. a tubular first housing means having a base end;

b. a mandrel centrally disposed in the first housing means and secured at the base end thereof;

0. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve covering the mandrel;

d. a tubular second housing means dimensioned to receive the mandrel and sleeve and telescope a within the first housing means between an extended position and a retracted position; 2. a spring within the first housing means urging the second housing means toward its extended posi- I tion; f. a set of indenting elements; g. and a cage means for the indenting elements disposed within the second housing means and surrounding the elastomeric sleeve, the cage means having a peripheral wall sloping axially in a direction to cause the indenting elements to press into the elastomeric sleeve upon extension of the sec- 0nd housing means in response to the force exerted by the spring, and to cause the indenting elements to clear the elastomeric sleeve upon retracting movement of the second housing means.

2. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein:

a. the cage means includes a screwthreaded member axially adjustable in the second housing means, a manually engageable member to advance and retract the screwthreaded member. to change the axial length of the cage means thereby to change the amountof penetration of the indenting elements into. the elastomeric sleeve so as tochange the amount of energy absorption;

b. and the second housing means includes an aperture. for access to the manually engageable member.

3. An energy absorbing device as defined inclaim 1,

wherein: I

a. the elastomeric sleeve differs in'thicknessin'accordance with a preselected pattern to change the energy absorbedthereby in'proportion to the force exerted by the spring, thereby to produce an essentially uniform force urging the second housing means toward its extended position. a

4. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein:

a. the first and second housing means include mutually e ngageable latch and keeper elements for join ing parts thereof together for assembly.

5. A door control device, comprising:

a. a hub member;

b. means for journalling the hub member; 7

c. a housing sleeve secured to the hub member and extending therefrom;

d. a mandrel secured tothe hub member and extending therefrom in centrally disposed relation to the housing sleeve;

e. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve on the mandrel; r

f. a tubular coupling memberreceiving the elastomeric sleeve and slidably received in the housing sleeve, the coupling member terminating in an axiallydirected annular stop;

g. a spring within the housing between the hub mem her and coupling member for urging the coupling member toward the extended end of thehousing engaging the extension member for relative axial adjustment, a cage compartment confronting the annular stop and having axially tapered walls, and a manually engageable knurled portion to effect axial adjustment, the extension member having an aperture exposing the knurled portion;

jar and a ring of indenting balls disposed in the cage compartment for indenting the elastomeric sleeve, the housing sleeve and extension member being relatively movable to effect corresponding movement of the indenting balls along the elastomeric sleeve.

6. A door control device as defined in claim 5,

wherein:

a. a first latch lug and latch aperture means join the hub member and housing sleeve, and a second latch lug and latch aperture means join the coupling member and extension member.

7. The combination with a hinged door and frame therefor of a door control device, comprising:

a. a bracket for attachment to a door frame; a strap for attachment to a door near its hinge axis;

b. a first and a second structure, arranged for relative telescoping movement and piv otally connected respectively to the bracket and the strap, the bracket and strap being relatively movable upon pivoting the door a predetermined initial amount to effect a relative contraction of the structures; and being relatively movable upon further pivoting of the door to effect relative extension of the structures;

c. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve and supporting mandrel therefor fixed within the first structure and movable into the second structure upon relative contraction;

d. a coupling joined to the second structure and slidable within the first structure, the coupling surrounding the sleeve, and having an end of reduced diameter;

e. a spring within the first structure and engaging the coupling to urge the second structure toward an extended position; a

f. a member axially adjustable within the second structure and telescoping the reduced end of the coupling to form therewith an indenting ball cage having tapered walls and variable in its axial dimension; 7

g. and a set of indenting balls in the cage and movable to a position indenting the elastomeric sleeve; whereby, upon extension movement of the structures under urge of the spring, the elastomeric sleeve absorbs energy to control the rate of extension.

8. A door control device as defined in claim 7,

wherein:

a. the axially adjustable member determines the depth of indentation of the balls into the elastomeric member thereby to determine the energy absorption of the elastomeric sleeve, and the second structure is provided with an access opening exposing the axially adjustable member to permit adjust ment. 

1. An energy absorbing device, comprising: a. a tubular first housing means having a base end; b. a mandrel centrally disposed in the first housing means and secured at the base end thereof; c. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve covering the mandrel; d. a tubular second housing means dimensioned to receive the mandrel and sleeve and telescope within the first housing means between an extended position and a retracted position; e. a spring within the first housing means urging the second housing means toward its extended position; f. a set of indenting elements; g. and a cage means for the indenting elements disposed within the second housing means and surrounding the elastomeric sleeve, the cage means having a peripheral wall sloping axially in a direction to cause the indenting elements to press into the elastomeric sleeve upon extension of the second housing means in response to the force exerted by the spring, and to cause the indenting elements to clear the elastomeric sleeve upon retracting movement of the second housing means.
 2. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the cage means includes a screwthreaded member axially adjustable in the second housing means, a manually engageable member to advance and retract the screwthreaded member to change the axial length of the cage means thereby to change the amount of penetration of the indenting elements into the elastomeric sleeve so as to change the amount of energy absorption; b. and the second housing means includes an aperture for access to the manually engageable member.
 3. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the elastomeric sleeve differs in thickness in accordance with a preselected pattern to change the energy absorbed thereby in proportion to the force exerted by the spring, thereby to produce an essentially uniform force urging the second housing means toward its extended position.
 4. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the first and second housing means include mutually engageable latch and keeper elements for joining parts thereof together for assembly.
 5. A door control device, comprising: a. a hub member; b. means for journalling the hub member; c. a housing sleeve secured to the hub member and extending thErefrom; d. a mandrel secured to the hub member and extending therefrom in centrally disposed relation to the housing sleeve; e. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve on the mandrel; f. a tubular coupling member receiving the elastomeric sleeve and slidably received in the housing sleeve, the coupling member terminating in an axially directed annular stop; g. a spring within the housing between the hub member and coupling member for urging the coupling member toward the extended end of the housing sleeve; h. an extension member having a tubular end secured to the coupling member; i. a ball cage means including a screwthreaded end engaging the extension member for relative axial adjustment, a cage compartment confronting the annular stop and having axially tapered walls, and a manually engageable knurled portion to effect axial adjustment, the extension member having an aperture exposing the knurled portion; jar and a ring of indenting balls disposed in the cage compartment for indenting the elastomeric sleeve, the housing sleeve and extension member being relatively movable to effect corresponding movement of the indenting balls along the elastomeric sleeve.
 6. A door control device as defined in claim 5, wherein: a. a first latch lug and latch aperture means join the hub member and housing sleeve, and a second latch lug and latch aperture means join the coupling member and extension member.
 7. The combination with a hinged door and frame therefor of a door control device, comprising: a. a bracket for attachment to a door frame; a strap for attachment to a door near its hinge axis; b. a first and a second structure, arranged for relative telescoping movement and pivotally connected respectively to the bracket and the strap, the bracket and strap being relatively movable upon pivoting the door a predetermined initial amount to effect a relative contraction of the structures; and being relatively movable upon further pivoting of the door to effect relative extension of the structures; c. an energy absorbing elastomeric sleeve and supporting mandrel therefor fixed within the first structure and movable into the second structure upon relative contraction; d. a coupling joined to the second structure and slidable within the first structure, the coupling surrounding the sleeve, and having an end of reduced diameter; e. a spring within the first structure and engaging the coupling to urge the second structure toward an extended position; f. a member axially adjustable within the second structure and telescoping the reduced end of the coupling to form therewith an indenting ball cage having tapered walls and variable in its axial dimension; g. and a set of indenting balls in the cage and movable to a position indenting the elastomeric sleeve; whereby, upon extension movement of the structures under urge of the spring, the elastomeric sleeve absorbs energy to control the rate of extension.
 8. A door control device as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the axially adjustable member determines the depth of indentation of the balls into the elastomeric member thereby to determine the energy absorption of the elastomeric sleeve, and the second structure is provided with an access opening exposing the axially adjustable member to permit adjustment. 